When I first saw the Luna Bar that the wonderful Kayla sent to me, I immediately thought about a different Luna.

Sailor Moon!

Did anyone else watch Sailor Moon back in the day? Let’s just say that I was obsessed with this show. I had the dolls, the comics, the magazine…I had Sailor Moon fever!

Now, back to the Luna Bar. The flavor I tried was Nutz Over Chocolate and it was really impressive. It was a filling snack, and anytime I try a bar that has some chocolate in it, I’m pretty much sold. Here are some of the other great things about this bar:

High in calcium and folic acid

Rich in antioxidants A, C, E

9g protein, 3g fiber

So glad I tried it! I’m going to be on the lookout for more Luna Bars!

Also, just a random little thing. I’ve gotten a couple questions about the honey vinegar dressing I use on my salads. Here it is:

This Alessi Orange Blossom Honey Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, Italy is a light and crisp vinegar just as its name implies. Made with Italian white wine vinegar and the musts of white grapes, it has a hint of sweetness from the orange blossom honey. This refreshing, versatile vinegar can be used in salads, chicken, fish, or even sprinkled over summer berries.

This is my all-time favorite salad dressing!

Munchies

Yesterday’s lunch was a garbage bowl unlike no other.

Packed with veggies and protein!

Here’s what we have in the mix: black beans, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, red bell pepper, hearts of palm, Lundberg Wild Blend Rice, feta cheese and balsamic vinegar. I haven’t had hearts of palm for a while, and they added some nice saltiness to the dish.

My breakfast today was an egg white bowl with some vegetable favorites.

I’m not sure why I titled this dish as a mess. It really wasn’t messy, but I just kind of threw together anything and everything to make it. That’s where the “mess” comes in.

Well, today is my last official day of staycation. I do have the weekend, but for the most part, my break is over. Hopefully, I didn’t mess up my sleep schedule too much. Overall, I got a ton of stuff done. I hung out with friends, worked out, got my hair cut and my eyebrows done and lots more. Staycation = success!

Happy Friday everyone!

Do you eat Luna Bars? What’s your favorite flavor? Any plans for the weekend? Do you have a favorite salad dressing?

That definitely took me back to my college days, and I must say, I don’t know how I coped with a hangover while trying to write papers. Yikes. I couldn’t even manage to get out of bed for more than some water or to go the bathroom. I guess I’m getting old. Well, since I want to stay hangover-free for as long as possible, I’m writing a short little post about how to avoid the dreaded beastly hangover. Hopefully, I can practice what I preach.

How to Avoid a Hangover

1. Limits – You should roughly know how many drinks you plan on having. Even if you get to your limit and you “don’t feel drunk,” don’t keep drinking. Sometimes being drunk can creep up on you, and if you have more and more drinks, you’ll be a hot mess in no time.

2. High-Quality H20 – Every time you finish a drink, get a glass of water. Alcohol is severely dehydrating, and that contributes to that ghastly hangover that’s waiting for you in the morning. If you don’t want people to know that you’re drinking water, ask for a bit of lemon and a straw.

3. Never Ever Mix – This was my problem. After a couple margaritas, someone had the bright idea to order shots. In my head, I knew I should turn it down but I didn’t. The shot was definitely not tequila (which is what is in margaritas) so it didn’t sit well. Rule: Stick to one alcohol.

4. Keep that Tummy Full – Before you start drinking, I’d recommend that you eat a piece of toast and some butter. Drinking on an empty stomach can make you drunk faster, and can lead to some unpleasant dry heaves in the morning. Plus, drinking causes you to lower your inhibitions, making you more likely to get White Castle at 4 am.

Granted, you can do all of this and still end up with a hangover. Sometimes we over-drink, sometimes something just doesn’t sit right and sometimes things just don’t go as planned. The only thing we can do is learn from the situation and try to feel better as soon as possible.

1. Ginger Ale – This drink is my savior if I’m hung over, or just not feeling well. It calms your stomach, and it’s actually really tasty. If you don’t have any in your home, just put a couple teaspoons of ginger in some water and mix.

2. Rest – There is no miracle cure for a hangover, and it will take time to overcome it. The best way to do this is by resting. Get in your bed, turn off the television and sleep. Your body needs it.

4. Water Bottle – Ginger ale may be my recommendation, but there’s no substitute for water. It’ll help rehydrate your body, so make sure to keep drinking it throughout the day. Carry a water bottle with you if necessary.

So there you have it. My tricks of the trade for preventing a hangover and dealing with one. 🙂

I broke my GU Energy Gel cherry yesterday! I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to try one of the gels that I won from the wonderful Katy’s giveaway, and the stars aligned yesterday afternoon. I woke up, ready for a 4.25-mile run/jog on the treadmill, and was feeling great. Jillian Michaels was calling to me, but so were all the blog posts in my Google Reader. Naturally, I skipped good old Jillian and got on the computer instead.

Later on, I received a text from one of my best friends. She wanted to know if I wanted to go for a run with her. I haven’t seen my friend in a week or so, and I really wanted to hang out and chat. I told her, of course and that I’d be ready in 20. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it the entire time so I ate/drank (?) the Strawberry Banana GU Energy Gel.

First off, let me just say that I am big on the texture of my food. If something doesn’t feel right, I seriously might gag. Now I knew that these things were gels and that they would be slimy, but still when it hit my mouth I thought about Simba trying his first insect in The Lion King.

But, once I got past the initial gooey-ness, I easily forced the rest of it down my throat. Unfortunately, I didn’t glance outside until after I took the gel. It was pouring and really cold. Wah wah. I texted Ana, and told her we could work out in my house instead. Thank you treadmill and elliptical! She took the T. and I got the E. and we pumped away while chatting for 30 minutes. This gel really really worked. After the machines we did Level 1 of Jillian, and even though the workout was just as grueling as it usually is, I wasn’t feeling tired.

Overall, the effect of the gel made up for the unpleasant texture. Next time, I want to do a run over 3.5 miles, I’m going to take one! I really think it could help me go farther! Thanks so much Katy!

Switching the Blog

I’ve gotten a couple questions about switching to self-hosting and getting my own domain. The best advice I can give you if you’re considering this is to check out The Singing Runner’s breakdown of her switch. She did it all herself, and her blog is phenomenal. I’m actually really lucky because I have a friend who is pretty much a tech genius. He registered with a Web Host for me, downloaded and installed the WordPress software, reverted my DNS and set up my SQL and he’s going to export all of my files from this blog and import them to the new one. I can honestly say that without him, I probably wouldn’t be switching. So why am I self-hosting?

1. Freedom – Though WordPress.com is seriously great, I now have a ton of themes to choose from. I can also modify these themes (colors, fonts, columns, etc). You can’t do that with a free blog.

2. Plug-Ins – This is probably the most important thing. There are so many plug-ins that can make your blog look amazing and feel like your own. I’m adding a ton to my new site, and you can’t add any with a free blog.

3. Changing the Code – I have some basic knowledge of coding, which allows me to make more in-depth changes within my new blog. Again, you don’t have this ability with a free blog.

Up until yesterday I’d been very hesitant to go near the xanthan gum in my house. Why? That name is really creepy, and it gave me the idea that xanthan gum was too “advanced” an ingredient for me to try. But because my sister always uses it in her smoothies, I decided to give it a shot. First, I did a bit of research.

Xanthan gum is used as a substitute for gluten in gluten-free baking, but you can also use it to thicken smoothies. There are only 5 calories for every half teaspoon of xanthan gum, so you don’t need to be nervous about using. Plus, if you’re like me, and your smoothies come out a bit watery, xanthan will become your savior. Be aware that xanthan is pretty expensive, so if you don’t already have it hidden in your home, then it might not be necessary.

Ready to blend!

Almond milk adds a nice touch to the drink. I’ve also been using it in my coffee recently, and it really gives the coffee a nice boost of flavor.

Oh so thick!

Thick Green SmoothieIngredients:

2 huge handfuls spinach

1/4 C. red apple, chopped

2-3 frozen peach slices

3-4 lg. strawberries, chopped

1/4 C. almond milk

1/2 Tbs. xanthan gum

3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

Place spinach in blender first. Then add the rest of the ingredients, and blend until smooth. Pour into glass and enjoy!

Soy Joy

I tried the first of the bars that Kayla sent me last week, and this one was really interesting. I’ve never had a soy bar, first of all, and second, I’ve never had a bar with banana flavor. I think that was the best thing about this snack. The banana flavor was delicious, plus it was thick like biscotti. Plus, the bar is low in calories (130) and filled with all-natural ingredients, like raisins and dried pineapple. If you like soft and chewy bars, I’d say, try this one!

Today

Not sure what I’m doing today. Already got my workout in this morning while watching The Price is Right on TV. I could seriously get used to doing that! My sister and I were obsessed with game shows when we were kids. We’d watch everything from Let’s Make a Deal to Supermarket Sweep to Jeopardy. Do you guys remember Supermarket Sweep? Contestants would race through a grocery story, and try to grab as many expensive items as possible. There were also bonuses in the shape of huge stuffed animals or products. The game was crazy!

Instead of a normal girls night tonight, we’re inviting the guys out with us for margaritas. I haven’t had one in a while and I’m really craving the sweetness. Hopefully, everyone can make it out.

One other random thing…I’m getting a new blog! I’m hosting my own blog with its own domain! I should be making the switch in the next couple weeks, just need to export everything from this one. I’ll keep you all posted!

Also, just wondering, is there anything you’d like to see more of on my blog, or do you have any questions for me? I see this all the time on other blogs, so I just wanted to ask. If not, no worries 🙂

Have you tried a Soy Joy bar? Do you ever work out while watching a game show? Remember Supermarket Sweep?

Waking up at 9:30 was beyond amazing this morning. It’s my first official day on “vacation” and I started things off with a short 2.25-mile run on the treadmill. My plans were to also get in a Jillian DVD, but with the weather being so nice out (58 degrees!), it just seemed like so much more fun to make a cup of coffee and sit outside while reading the newspaper.

One story actually made me laugh, which is pretty rare for a newspaper. Apparently there was a woman in Florida who was fed up wit her son’s ~1.5 GPA in school. She forced him to go onto a busy street and hold a sign that said, “Honk if I need an education.” Now, investigators are looking into whether her behavior could be held against her, I guess. She didn’t seem to care though because people honked, and she seems to have gotten her point across. Pretty random, but pretty funny.

Most of the other news was depressing, as usual. But if I don’t read the newspaper every single morning I feel oddly out of sorts. I think that’s the journalism student in me talking.

Now, television, newspapers and Web sites are being dominated by the tragedy in Japan and the potential war between the Allies and Libya. I don’t want to put a damper on anyone’s day, but I’ve been thinking about both issues a lot lately. I’ve decided to donate some money to the Red Cross to support Japan. Though it will probably only be around $20.00, I believe that everyone can do just a little bit to help the Japanese overcome this horrible tragedy. I’m praying for the safety of everyone in Japan right now.

Paul came over during the afternoon, and instead of going for a walk, which was what we originally planned to do, we played Scrabble in my backyard.

Scrabble fever!

Three games later, Paul had beaten me 2-1. Wah wah.

Though my backyard is usually pretty peaceful, it was very noisy during all three Scrabble games. I kept hearing garbage trucks, lots and lots of birds chirping, random noises and a wild cat meowing. This cat was pretty creepy. It stared at us for a while, and then crept away. It looked like it was homeless because of the crazy beard it had. Seriously this was a jungle cat. Of course, I didn’t get a picture of it, but I did sneak up on a bird.

The rest of my day was filled with eating! Lunch was beyond delicious, thanks to muenster cheese.

Lunch at home

I melted two slices of muenster cheese on an everything bagel thin and then had some red pepper and sun-dried tomatoes on the side.

For dinner, Paul and I used a Groupon for the Greek restaurant Psistaria five minutes from my house. We ordered the kalamari to begin with because we both love squid. I ended up getting the roasted red peppers filled with a spicy feta sauce and a bowl of egg lemon soup. Both were so yummy, and the spicy feta sauce had a delicious bite to it. Yum!

I’m so stuffed right now, I feel like I could burst! I think that means that I need to lay in bed and get some reading done, no?

Has spring arrived for you yet? Any fun plans for the week? What’s your favorite thing to order at Greek restaurants?

Welcome!

My name is Sophia and I am a 22-year-old writer and editor who's interested in staying fit and healthy, indulging in movies and books and listening to good old rock-n-roll. This blog follows my life as I work full-time and cruise through the tricky waves of life.